Liu Ying’s knee holds up through first round (pic)

BUKIT JALIL: There was a huge smile of relief on Goh Liu Ying’s face after she cleared the first round of the Maybank Malaysian Open without needing any extra medical attention.

The 24-year-old Liu Ying is suffering from a meniscus tear on her right knee and has been advised to go for surgery, which would see her sidelined for eight months at least.

Liu Ying however has decided to put off making a decision about the surgery until after the Malaysian Open, and as such she was relieved that the injury did not flare up during her first match of the year with partner Chan Peng Soon.

Liu Ying-Peng Soon however still had to do it the hard way by beating Indonesia’s Muhd Rijal-Vita Marissa 23-21, 17-21, 21-10.

“It was quite tough for me because I was still feeling the pain and was quite weak on court,” said Liu Ying,

“But we changed our tactics a little this time … in order not to leave myself too exposed and I’m relieved it went well.

“Right now though, I don’t want to think about the surgery or ending my partnership with Peng Soon just yet.

“I just want to see how far I can go first … because I don’t know how much I can push myself,” said Liu Ying, stressing that she would prefer not to go for surgery.

Peng Soon meanwhile said that covering for Liu Ying will not take a toll on him.

“I’m already used to covering her and covering more for her now will not over-burden me,” said Peng Soon.

“For now, I just know that we are to get through this tournament first. I do not know what is going to happen to our partnership after that.”

The pair will face Praveen Jordan-Debby Susanto, who defeated Tan Aik Quan-Lai Pei Jing, in the second round.

A second Malaysian pair, Ong Jian Guo-Lim Yin Loo, also made it through by beating Americans Phillip Chew-Jamie Subandhi 25-23, 21-12.

Pre-tournament favourites Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei of China and Indonesia’s Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir also went through with ease.